Among Montana’s most enduring legacies are the names assigned to its geographic features and places found on the state map. As long as humans have inhabited Montana they have named places. While the past two centuries have changed the way people live in Montana, the names given to some rivers, mountain ranges, cities, and towns have persisted, while others have changed with time. Naming Montana explores the origins of more than 1,000 Montana place names, drawing upon the knowledge of Montana Historical Society historians and the expertise of local historians from across the state. This new publication includes both geographic features, selected historic sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, historic photographs, and maps. The authors’ extensive research illuminates the stories behind the names of places that we call home.

Stagecoaches carried visitors to and through Yellowstone National Park for thirty-eight years, from 1878 to 1916, and helped establish Yellowstone as a world-famous travel destination. This Volume One of a two-volume set by preeminent Yellowstone historian Lee Whittlesey is an engaging account of stagecoaching’s first years in the park. In lively, often humorous prose, Whittlesey describes the evolution of stagecoach travel in Yellowstone, the colorful men—and women—who ran the stagecoach companies, and the types of stagecoaches that carried tourists in the park, including the famed “Tally-ho” design. Along the way, Whittlesey profiles the stagecoach drivers who were “rough and profane but men of undoubted nerve,” and he shares stories from passengers who were appalled by their drivers, the “mind-shattering and bone-rattling” roads, the armed hold-ups, and the relentless dust, yet who were entranced by the wonders of this new Wonderland. "A new book by Yellowstone’s premier historian is always cause for celebration. Lee Whittlesey’s “Off with the Crack of a Whip!” is both a lively, colorful paean to the park’s legendary stagecoach days and an astonishing achievement of research on an encyclopedic scale. An amazing book.” — Paul Schullery, author of Searching for Yellowstone and The Bear Doesn’t Know “This book is an excellent source for anyone doing research on Yellowstone history, because stagecoach tourism, as Lee Whittlesey shows, was intertwined with almost every aspect of Yellowstone’s development. Thoroughly well-documented, “Off with the Crack of a Whip!” is a fascinating ride into Yellowstone’s stagecoaching past.” — Dr. Judith Meyer, Professor Emeritus, Missouri State University-Springfield (retired), and author of The Spirit of Yellowstone

Many of the great icons of western American history left their mark on Carbon County while living in or traveling through the natural byway that is Montana's Clark's Fork Valley. The Apsáalooke, or Crow, people called the valley home for centuries. The Lewis and Clark expedition recorded and named the valley's river in 1806. In 1807-1808, John Colter, the discoverer of Yellowstone Park, explored the southern end of the valley. The Rocky Mountain Fur Company and adventurers like Jedediah Smith, Joe Meek, and Thomas Fitzpatrick soon followed. In 1864, Jim Bridger blazed the Bridger Trail through the valley. Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Perce followed the valley north from Yellowstone Park during their 1877 flight toward Canada. Calamity Jane and Caroline Lockhart, a noted author and literary rival of Zane Grey, once called the valley home, and Buffalo Bill Cody and John "Liver-Eating" Johnston visited it frequently.

Dive into Big Sky Country as Moon Montana reveals the rolling prairies, wild forests, and rugged spirit of this intrepid state. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries designed for outdoor adventurers, history buffs, and more Focused coverage of Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park, plus how to plan an epic Montana road trip Must-see highlights and outdoor experiences: Go skiing in Whitefish, relax at a hot springs resort, or barhop through Missoula. Hike to roaring waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, and secluded lakes. Spot wild wolves, elk, and bison, go whitewater rafting, or marvel at the legendary Old Faithful. Sign up for a Sun Tour of East Glacier and learn about the area's important Native American history. Discover authentic cowboy culture in Billings, or indulge in locally raised bison burgers and huckleberry pie Expert advice from former wilderness guide and longtime Montana local Carter G. Walker on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Up-to-date information including background on the landscape, wildlife, history, and local culture Useful tips for families, LGBTQ travelers, travelers with disabilities, and more Find your adventure in Montana with Moon's practical advice and local insight. Sticking to the national parks? Try Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton or Moon Glacier National Park.

Dive into Big Sky Country as Moon Montana reveals the rolling prairies, wild forests, and rugged spirit of this intrepid state. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries, including a week covering the best sights in the state Focused coverage of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone, plus how to plan an epic Montana road trip Must-see highlights and outdoor experiences: Go skiing in Whitefish, relax at a hot springs resort, or barhop through Missoula. Hike to roaring waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, and secluded lakes. Spot wild wolves, elk, and bison, go whitewater rafting, or marvel at the legendary Old Faithful. Sign up for a Sun Tour of East Glacier and learn about the area's important Native American history. Discover authentic cowboy culture in Billings, or indulge in locally raised bison burgers and huckleberry pie Expert advice from former wilderness guide and longtime Montana local Carter G. Walker on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Up-to-date information including background on the landscape, wildlife, history, and local culture Find your adventure in Montana with Moon's practical advice and local insight. Sticking to the national parks? Try Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton or Moon Glacier National Park. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Moon Montana & Wyoming guides you to the best of the wild west, revealing the untold adventures that await under the vast country sky. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries for visiting both states, including Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton national parks, curated for outdoor adventurers, history buffs, and more The best road trips in Montana and Wyoming, from a 14-day Greater Yellowstone loop to a 7-day Glacier road trip Must-see highlights and unique experiences: Hit the road to see the stunning scenery of the national parks, and stop in towns where the old West is alive and well. Spot wildlife like wolves, elk, moose, bison, and black bears, go whitewater rafting or kayaking, or drive the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road. Hike to roaring waterfalls, breathtaking vistas, and secluded lakes. Learn about the region's important Native American history, discover authentic cowboy culture, or sample the best of western cuisine in Jackson Hole, from locally raised bison burgers to huckleberry pie Honest advice from former wilderness guide and longtime Montana local Carter G. Walker on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Background information on the landscape, wildlife, history, and local culture Recommendations for families, LGBTQ+ travelers, and travelers with disabilities With Moon Montana & Wyoming's practical advice and local insight, you can plan your trip your way. Focusing on the national parks? Try Moon Glacier National Park or Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton.

From the time of the gold rush to the election of the first woman to the U.S. Congress, Wanton West brings to life the women of the West's wildest region: Montana, famous for its lawlessness, boomtowns, and America's largest red-light districts. Prostitutes and entrepreneurs--like Chicago Joe, Madame Mustache, and Highkicker—flocked to Montana to make their own money, gamble, drink, and raise hell just like men. Moralists wrote them off as “soiled doves,” yet a surprising number prospered, flaunting their freedom and banking ten times more than their “respectable” sisters. A lively read providing new insights into women's struggle for equality, Wanton West is a refreshingly objective exploration of a freewheeling society and a re-creation of an unforgettable era in history.

Traversing the spectacular Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming is an unforgettable experience. The unspoiled mountain scenery along the highway inspired famed news correspondent Charles Kuralt to label it "America's most beautiful drive," yet the story behind this engineering marvel is largely unknown. It is an epic account of man versus nature to construct a road through unforgiving wilderness. Built during the height of the Great Depression and rising 10,947 feet above sea level, the Beartooth Highway sparked an economic boom in Red Lodge, Cooke City and Yellowstone National Park. Understandably, it continues to leave a profound impression on people privileged to drive it. Historian Jon Axline tells the exciting and colorful narrative behind the origins and construction of the Beartooth Highway.

Traveling through Time While Montana's roadside historical markers give motorists an introduction to the state's colorful history, there's much more to explore. Priests Pass and Helena's Morelli Bridge were displays of ambition and fortitude. Conversely, the story The Black and White Trail represents the folly of one Doc Siegfriedt. Once thriving and strategically located along rails and roads, the towns of Beaverton and Taft are lost to history. While striking geological features like Tower Rock and picturesque byways like Harding Way are enduring vistas. Historian Jon Axline takes readers along the aboriginal trails, territorial roads, historic bridges and fascinating stopping points connected to Montana's lively and exciting transportation history.